Last night John and I got our Christmas tree. It is beautiful; a seven foot noble fir. I named him Lewis. I have always named my Christmas trees. I don't know why, something weird about me I guess.
When we were at the Christmas tree lot all the trees were $50 or more so we decided to leave. The attendant asked why we were leaving and we told him that we did not want to spend $50 on a tree. Then he said that he could negotiate the price. He then asked us how much we wanted to spend. $30 I said. Thinking that that would be a fair price and not the insult that $20 would have been. He countered with $40. and then John said $35. We settled on $37.99; okay, sold!
On the way home we stopped and picked up the pizza we ordered and John ran into Skyler Judd, a guy that he lived with for a time on his mission in California. That kid knows so many people. I can't take him any where.
Once the tree was up and dinner was over I started my endeavor, to make some divinity for Christmas boxes. I boiled the sugar, water and corn syrup and waited until they reached "hard ball" stage. then I whipped the egg whites to stiff peaks. When i tried to combine the sugar mixture to my egg whites, it was a mess. The sugar had cooled too much. I called mom to ask her what I did wrong. She told me to not let the sugar cool. Okay, thanks. I said. I put the pans in the sink with some warm soapy water, but the sugar was not budging. Eventually I had to boil some water and pour it into the pans and scrub with a knife and sponge, because the water was too hot. An hour after I had begun, I was ready to begin again.
My second attempt, although better was still not perfect, and I beat too much air into the mixture making it not want to stick together. Hopefully my third and all subsequent attempts here after will be successful. Today I am going to make truffles; also something I have never done before.
Wish me luck.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Monday, December 13, 2010
Good Day
Today was a day of cleaning in preparation to christmasify our house. I cleaned the kitchen from top to bottom including the fridge. I can't tell you how many times I did dishes today. Well, maybe I can it was 4. I never do dishes that much. I also swept and mopped the floor.
I was going to move onto the bathroom but then John came home and he wanted the carpets cleaned before we got our Christmas tree. He borrowed his friends, Zach's carpet cleaner and we figured out how to work it. Then I cleaned the carpets. They look a lot better. I was able to get most of the oil stains out. Once Christmas is over we will have to clean the floor again.
In addition to all this cleaning, I threw a chicken in the crockpot with potatoes and carrots. Six hours later we were eating a wonderful dinner. Today I felt like a good wife.
After dinner we headed over to Barnes and Nobel to once again look at the Nook e-reader (it is on my Christmas list) and once again decide that there is something missing. John and I decided that an ipad would be better. It is more user friendly, I can get books from other sources than just the company I purchased the e-reader from and it already has color. one con is that it is back lit, but they have different colors that make it easier on the eyes and a night time and daytime feature. In the world of e-readers this is just the beginning. you wouldn't want to buy a first generation car, so why would you want to buy a first generation e-reader?
I was going to move onto the bathroom but then John came home and he wanted the carpets cleaned before we got our Christmas tree. He borrowed his friends, Zach's carpet cleaner and we figured out how to work it. Then I cleaned the carpets. They look a lot better. I was able to get most of the oil stains out. Once Christmas is over we will have to clean the floor again.
In addition to all this cleaning, I threw a chicken in the crockpot with potatoes and carrots. Six hours later we were eating a wonderful dinner. Today I felt like a good wife.
After dinner we headed over to Barnes and Nobel to once again look at the Nook e-reader (it is on my Christmas list) and once again decide that there is something missing. John and I decided that an ipad would be better. It is more user friendly, I can get books from other sources than just the company I purchased the e-reader from and it already has color. one con is that it is back lit, but they have different colors that make it easier on the eyes and a night time and daytime feature. In the world of e-readers this is just the beginning. you wouldn't want to buy a first generation car, so why would you want to buy a first generation e-reader?
Monday, October 4, 2010
Happy Birthday John!
This past weekend, along with General Conference, John and I celebrated his birthday. I was a little worried about it because last year we lived in Los Angeles and went whale watching. "How am I gonna top that?" I wondered. It turned out to be a great celebration with just the two of us. Friday we went to Bombay House and enjoyed our favorite curry; lamb for John, chicken for me. Then we laughed at a silly movie, Hot Tub Time Machine.
Saturday we ate pizza and watched one of my favorite movies and Johns too, The Sum of all Fears. I had baked John's favorite cake, german chocolate; which actually was really good this year. The first year I made birthday cake for him, I didn't understand it was a special formula. So I just bought a chocolate cake mix and put the German chocolate frosting on that. I don't think I'll ever live that one down, but I'm okay with that.
John enjoyed his gifts. A new dress shirt from Mom and Dad, a book entitled Digital Soul, which talks about AI (artificial intelligence) and machines. A years subscription to Maximum PC, and a collectors addition copy of Rolling Stone magazine which rates the 100 best Beatles songs. Before John and I went out for his birthday. I made him a play list of the top 20 songs and told him it was a clue. It drove him crazy, and he loved it.
At the end of the weekend, the almost impossible had come true. John declared that this was his "best birthday ever."
Thank you to everyone who called, texted and facebooked John to wish him a happy birthday. He felt truly loved by your thoughtfulness.
Saturday we ate pizza and watched one of my favorite movies and Johns too, The Sum of all Fears. I had baked John's favorite cake, german chocolate; which actually was really good this year. The first year I made birthday cake for him, I didn't understand it was a special formula. So I just bought a chocolate cake mix and put the German chocolate frosting on that. I don't think I'll ever live that one down, but I'm okay with that.
John enjoyed his gifts. A new dress shirt from Mom and Dad, a book entitled Digital Soul, which talks about AI (artificial intelligence) and machines. A years subscription to Maximum PC, and a collectors addition copy of Rolling Stone magazine which rates the 100 best Beatles songs. Before John and I went out for his birthday. I made him a play list of the top 20 songs and told him it was a clue. It drove him crazy, and he loved it.
At the end of the weekend, the almost impossible had come true. John declared that this was his "best birthday ever."
Thank you to everyone who called, texted and facebooked John to wish him a happy birthday. He felt truly loved by your thoughtfulness.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Let the More Loving One Be Me
The More Loving One
Looking up at the stars, I know quite well That, for all they care, I can go to hell, But on earth indifference is the least We have to dread from man or beast. How should we like it were stars to burn With a passion for us we could not return? If equal affection cannot be, Let the more loving one be me. Admirer as I think I am Of stars that do not give a damn, I cannot, now I see them, say I missed one terribly all day. Were all stars to disappear or die, I should learn to look at an empty sky And feel its total dark sublime, Though this might take me a little time.-- W H Auden
Afternoon in Nephi
This afternoon, I went down to Nephi Utah to visit my maternal grandparents; Don and Rula Gowers. I arrived around 2:15pm. Grandma was in the house and told me that she had just finished putting her feet up to prevent swelling in her ankles. She then proceeded to explain how she moved the couch cushions for optimum comfort and drainage.
After that we went into the kitchen for Grandma to drink her daily glass of Gatorade, to help ward off hyponatermia. At that same moment I realized I had not eaten lunch. I asked Grandma for a sandwich. She pulled out the bologna and asked if I liked butter or salad dressing "aka mayonnaise" on my sandwich. I said salad dressing. I asked if there was any mustard, but there was not. "Did you want ketchup?" she asked. "Ewww." I thought. "No." I answered. I added potato chips (of which any lunch is not complete without) and Grandma gave me a tub of fresh peeled peaches.
As I munched we discussed medical problems. I get this a lot. People find out I'm a nurse and inevitably they will say "Oh!" and ask me a question about some specific thing that I don't know about because it is not what I do, so I have forgotten it; except maybe the hazy memory here and there, or they start to tell me about all their ailments. I used to try to give them a somewhat intelligent answer or explain a concept or diagnosis better to them. Now I just say "I don't know." I wonder if this is how doctors feel? Sometimes I sigh to myself, but if you are my grandma and have managed to survive past your 90th birthday. I am all ears. What can I do to help your life be a little better; even if it might be just listening with the occasional "huh, hum, or grunt."
After lunch we looked at the Church News and I read an article aloud about people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the town of Luputa getting fresh water to their village with the help of LDS Charities.
Grandma then commented how she did not realize how may temples were in South America; 34 in all. We counted.
We spoke of family things, Jordan going into the MTC today. Grandpa went to his farewell. Kerrin is going to make me a temple dress. I am co-teaching a class on meal planning and couponing. Isn't Landon the best baby? He hardly ever cries. To that Grandma said "Do you know why Ethan and Landon are such good children?" I kind of already knew the answer, but I let her tell me anyway. "It's because Alice keeps them on schedule. They nap when they're supposed to, she feeds then when they're hungry and does not let them stay up late." Then she added. "If you ever have children, you would do well to take a page out of her book." Amen.
Grandpa ever the worker and tinkerer, was not at home. He and his Jazzy were over at the other house. Grandma and I went over to find him, but he was not there. I went back over later by myself when I was getting ready to leave. He was pruning a tree. He was pruning this tree because it was in the way of the workers who were putting aluminum siding on his house. The house needed to be painted again. At first Grandpa had thought about climbing on a ladder and doing it himself, but then thought better of it and decided to have the siding put up instead. It looks really good.
While talking to him in the back yard we munched on raspberries from the bush. According to Grandpa the crop has not been very big or plentiful this year. Never the less, we ate some anyway. When I put the fresh raspberries into my mouth, I was transported into summers of my childhood. Memories of my sisters, the swing and tree house, the huge trunk of dolls and fuzzy kittens from the next door neighbors came to mind. Grandma reading us bedtime stories as we sucked on orange cream-o and fudge icicles
Also of “helping” Grandpa do whatever he was doing. He was always so patient and so quite with me. I can only recall that he was upset with me once my whole entire life. I feel we have a special unspoken bond he and I; like our spirits understand each other very well. I love you Grandpa. Thanks to you both for making it a great afternoon.
After that we went into the kitchen for Grandma to drink her daily glass of Gatorade, to help ward off hyponatermia. At that same moment I realized I had not eaten lunch. I asked Grandma for a sandwich. She pulled out the bologna and asked if I liked butter or salad dressing "aka mayonnaise" on my sandwich. I said salad dressing. I asked if there was any mustard, but there was not. "Did you want ketchup?" she asked. "Ewww." I thought. "No." I answered. I added potato chips (of which any lunch is not complete without) and Grandma gave me a tub of fresh peeled peaches.
As I munched we discussed medical problems. I get this a lot. People find out I'm a nurse and inevitably they will say "Oh!" and ask me a question about some specific thing that I don't know about because it is not what I do, so I have forgotten it; except maybe the hazy memory here and there, or they start to tell me about all their ailments. I used to try to give them a somewhat intelligent answer or explain a concept or diagnosis better to them. Now I just say "I don't know." I wonder if this is how doctors feel? Sometimes I sigh to myself, but if you are my grandma and have managed to survive past your 90th birthday. I am all ears. What can I do to help your life be a little better; even if it might be just listening with the occasional "huh, hum, or grunt."
After lunch we looked at the Church News and I read an article aloud about people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the town of Luputa getting fresh water to their village with the help of LDS Charities.
Grandma then commented how she did not realize how may temples were in South America; 34 in all. We counted.
We spoke of family things, Jordan going into the MTC today. Grandpa went to his farewell. Kerrin is going to make me a temple dress. I am co-teaching a class on meal planning and couponing. Isn't Landon the best baby? He hardly ever cries. To that Grandma said "Do you know why Ethan and Landon are such good children?" I kind of already knew the answer, but I let her tell me anyway. "It's because Alice keeps them on schedule. They nap when they're supposed to, she feeds then when they're hungry and does not let them stay up late." Then she added. "If you ever have children, you would do well to take a page out of her book." Amen.
Grandpa ever the worker and tinkerer, was not at home. He and his Jazzy were over at the other house. Grandma and I went over to find him, but he was not there. I went back over later by myself when I was getting ready to leave. He was pruning a tree. He was pruning this tree because it was in the way of the workers who were putting aluminum siding on his house. The house needed to be painted again. At first Grandpa had thought about climbing on a ladder and doing it himself, but then thought better of it and decided to have the siding put up instead. It looks really good.
While talking to him in the back yard we munched on raspberries from the bush. According to Grandpa the crop has not been very big or plentiful this year. Never the less, we ate some anyway. When I put the fresh raspberries into my mouth, I was transported into summers of my childhood. Memories of my sisters, the swing and tree house, the huge trunk of dolls and fuzzy kittens from the next door neighbors came to mind. Grandma reading us bedtime stories as we sucked on orange cream-o and fudge icicles
Also of “helping” Grandpa do whatever he was doing. He was always so patient and so quite with me. I can only recall that he was upset with me once my whole entire life. I feel we have a special unspoken bond he and I; like our spirits understand each other very well. I love you Grandpa. Thanks to you both for making it a great afternoon.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Genealogy Funnies
These got sent to me in an email. They make me giggle.
- Our 2nd great grandfather was found dead crossing the plains in the library. He was married 3 times in the endowment house and has 21 children. He and his daughter are listed as not being born.
- I would like to find out if I have any living relatives or dead relatives or ancestors in my family.
- Will you send me a list of all the Dripps in your library?
- My Grandfather died at the age of 3.
- We are sending you 5 children in a separate envelope.
- Documentation: Family Bible in possession of Aunt Merle until the tornado hit Topeka, Kansas, now only the Good Lord know where it is . . .
- The wife of #22 could not be found. Somebody suggested that she might have been stillborn -- what do you think?
- I am mailing you my aunt and uncle and 3 of their children.
- Enclosed please find my Grandmother. I have worked on her for 30 years without success. Now see what you can do.
- I have a hard time finding myself in London. If I were there I was very small and cannot be found.
- This family had 7 nephews that I am unable to find. If you know who they are, please add them to the list.
- We lost our Grandmother, will you please send us a copy?
- Will you please send me the name of my first wife? I have forgotten her name.
- A 14-year-old boy wrote: "I do not want you to do my research for me. Will you please send me all of the material on the Welch line, in the US, England and Scotland countries? I will do the research."
Family camp 2010
July 15, 2010
I am camping with my family on Boulder Mountain. We have all come here from our respective places; Mom, Dad, Josie and Lizzy from Phoenix. Abu from Austin. He flew on a plane to Phoenix and then drove with Josie. Alice, Aaron, Ethan and Landon came from Ogden and I came from Orem. Even Nick is here. He came to Phoenix with his mom to visit Grandpa and Grandma Nelson. After being there a couple of days he decided to camp with us.
I got here at 4pm. When I got out of the truck Ethan immediately asked me "Rada, where is your friend John? I answered that he was at school and that maybe we would see him later. Then Ethan, Dad and I went down to a bridge by our camp site. Ethan threw pine cones which he calls "acorns" into the river and watched teem float down.
Mom and Dad made dinner in the dutch oven. We had most of the supplies and Josie, who hadn't arrived yet was bringing the rest. Just as dinner was ready, she got to camp. What great timing! After dinner we sat around the fire. Alice and Aaron taught us how to make the perfect smore (yum!) Mom had not only brought regular Hershey's chocolate bars, but Special Dark as well. Dark chocolate is my favorite.
After that everyone decided to go to bed. Lizzy and I are sharing a tent by a stream. Our tents are spaced a good distance from one another. Hopefully it will block out any snoring. =)
I am camping with my family on Boulder Mountain. We have all come here from our respective places; Mom, Dad, Josie and Lizzy from Phoenix. Abu from Austin. He flew on a plane to Phoenix and then drove with Josie. Alice, Aaron, Ethan and Landon came from Ogden and I came from Orem. Even Nick is here. He came to Phoenix with his mom to visit Grandpa and Grandma Nelson. After being there a couple of days he decided to camp with us.
I got here at 4pm. When I got out of the truck Ethan immediately asked me "Rada, where is your friend John? I answered that he was at school and that maybe we would see him later. Then Ethan, Dad and I went down to a bridge by our camp site. Ethan threw pine cones which he calls "acorns" into the river and watched teem float down.
Mom and Dad made dinner in the dutch oven. We had most of the supplies and Josie, who hadn't arrived yet was bringing the rest. Just as dinner was ready, she got to camp. What great timing! After dinner we sat around the fire. Alice and Aaron taught us how to make the perfect smore (yum!) Mom had not only brought regular Hershey's chocolate bars, but Special Dark as well. Dark chocolate is my favorite.
After that everyone decided to go to bed. Lizzy and I are sharing a tent by a stream. Our tents are spaced a good distance from one another. Hopefully it will block out any snoring. =)
Quaint Little Picture
This morning I have been "dinking" around with templates for my blog posts. I am a novice at this, if you could not tell from the pictures over my text in the last posting. So, I wanted to find a way to make it better, and more enjoyable for you the reader.
Previous to today I found a picture of Parson's Kansas. Isn't it so sweet? John's family came from there. In Kansas is where our Barnett and Copeland lines merge. To say it another way would be Kenneth married Bernice.
I love doing genealogy! I look froward to posting more about my experiences and travels as it relates to genealogy. In the not to distant future I will be traveling to Nephi Utah to interview my grandparents Don, and Rula Gowers who are both in their 90's about their lives. I am going to try to record it on a digital recorder so that everyone will be able to hear it. I wonder if I could post that here? Something to look into.
I will also be taking a genealogical pedigree chart from my Grandpa Gowers and repairing it. It is torn quite badly. Anyway, my plan is to submit the chart to Generation Maps. They are a wonderful company that can make any kind of map you want, no matter how big. They specialize in genealogical maps. You can just send them your information and in a few days they will send you back some of their ideas for your information. Obviously the longer/bigger the chart, the more expensive it is. I was thinking it would make a great Christmas gift for you know who in Phoenix. Let me know if you would like to be involved.
Previous to today I found a picture of Parson's Kansas. Isn't it so sweet? John's family came from there. In Kansas is where our Barnett and Copeland lines merge. To say it another way would be Kenneth married Bernice.
I love doing genealogy! I look froward to posting more about my experiences and travels as it relates to genealogy. In the not to distant future I will be traveling to Nephi Utah to interview my grandparents Don, and Rula Gowers who are both in their 90's about their lives. I am going to try to record it on a digital recorder so that everyone will be able to hear it. I wonder if I could post that here? Something to look into.
I will also be taking a genealogical pedigree chart from my Grandpa Gowers and repairing it. It is torn quite badly. Anyway, my plan is to submit the chart to Generation Maps. They are a wonderful company that can make any kind of map you want, no matter how big. They specialize in genealogical maps. You can just send them your information and in a few days they will send you back some of their ideas for your information. Obviously the longer/bigger the chart, the more expensive it is. I was thinking it would make a great Christmas gift for you know who in Phoenix. Let me know if you would like to be involved.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Preserving Family Photos
These are my excellent parents. Apparently they were going to a party with some kind of western theme. My dad does not normally wear a holster. The other pictures are of me and two of my three sisters; Josie and Lizzy.A few days ago I went to Archivers in Orem. I went there to get some cotton gloves, acid free paper, pen and box. Most if not all the store was devoted to scrap booking. Which is cute and fun, but I don't find myself very creative. Maybe I'll check out a book from the library on the principles of graphic design.
But I digress. When my mother in law came to visit us she brought a bunch of old family photos. We are in the process of scanning them into the computer. My husband is a tiff. fan. But I am okay with jpeg, on some things. For those of you who don't know, jpeg is a less rich file format. So they are a bit smaller on hard drive space and people are usually more okay with you sending them that kind of picture for the same reason.
I really wanted to show you all a picture of Matilda Jackson Copeland, but I can't find it on the computer I'm using right now. If I do, I'll post again.
Happy researching!
Rada
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Oh Thank Heaven for Death Records
As I mentioned in my previous post I am looking for Copeland's in Missouri. The Missouri Digital Archives have been such a big help. Yesterday I went there online with my trusty laptop and typed in Copeland under the death certificate heading and scrolled through, I was able to find 5 or 6 more death certificates for people in my family. WOO HOO! Some of them even lead me to their spouses. I love primary sources. I am thinking of applying this method to the sirname Jackson as well. This may prove more difficult because I think that, that particular sir name is more prevalent than Copeland is , but who knows. I'll give it a whirl.
The people who's death certificates I found yesterday are:
Calvin C Copland 1846-1927
Charles Copeland 1881-1953
Edward Melvin Copeland 1877-1954
George Easly Copeland 1885-1928
Lucy Hargrove Copeland 1887-1954
William Ray Copeland 1841-1918
The people who's death certificates I found yesterday are:
Calvin C Copland 1846-1927
Charles Copeland 1881-1953
Edward Melvin Copeland 1877-1954
George Easly Copeland 1885-1928
Lucy Hargrove Copeland 1887-1954
William Ray Copeland 1841-1918
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
First Post
Hello. The interest and love of genealogy for me, is deeply rooted. When I was young, my Uncle Keith would come to visit us for the Christmas holidays. We lived in Sandy Utah. Keith would take me with him to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. While at the library I would help him find our ancestors.
I really don't know how much help a ten or eleven year old girl would be, but it was fun. I remember searching in the quite, cloistered half light of the microfilm reader looking for two particular names that Keith had given me. Searching.....searching. Bingo! I found it! I was so proud of myself. Keith, was happy too and wrote the source in his note book and made a copy of the document we had found. Then, the search was then on again. Many a happy Christmas time was spent in the library.
Since that time the desire to discover my ancestors has never left me. I find that I can do genealogy for hours. It really sucks me in. The difference is that now I can do a lot of it from my home computer, which I love, in addition to all the old methods; which I have to admit I am rusty at, If I every really learned them at all.
This is the documentation of my adventure. If you by chance stumble across my blog before I have it going in full swing Then let me share with you a little bit of what I know.
I am currently researching Copeland's and Lyle's. Although mostly Copeland. They lived in Kansas and Missouri in the 1850's. Oliver Willard Copeland married Matilda Lee Jackson on December 13, 1889 in Stockton, Cedar, Missouri. They had 2 boys: George Joshua and John Orville.
Oliver Willard remarried Clara Victoria Burchett Putnum in 1942. This most likely means that Matilda died. However I can not find her death date. I know that Matilda and Oliver are living in Cedar Co. Missouri in 1930 from the census record. She must have died in between 1930-1942.
As a side note a really good online resource if you are looking for vital records in Missouri is Missouri digital heritage. You can even look up births prior to 1910. http://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/resources/birthdeath/
Matilda's husband Oliver Willard is buried in Parsons Kansas at Oakwood Cemetary. At least one of her children is as well. Since I am not able to find her death date online, and searches at the Family History Center have not turned up anything. I am going to write the Missouri State Archives for hopefully her death certificate. If by chance she died in Kansas, then I will write them as well.
If my newly acquired readership has any suggestions, I would be happy to take them.
Thanks for reading!
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